Continuous measurement for determining a suitable mounting position or for quality-testing of gear sets

Abstract

A system for determining the suitable positioning of a first gear wheel in relation to a second gear wheel. The system comprises an evaluation unit and a roll-of device, which contains a first spindle for the rotatable seating of the first gear wheel, a second spindle for the rotatable seating of the second gear wheel and a drive mechanism for rotating the first gear wheel and a drive mechanism for acting with a positive or a negative torque on the second gear wheel. The roll-off device furthermore has a displacement device for changing the positioning of the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel. A measurement pick-up device and two angle encoders are provided in the roll-off device and are connected with the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit processes coordinate information S(X, Y, Z), which describes the positioning of the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel, the continuous signal from the measurement pick-up device, and signals from the two angle encoders, in order to determine the suitable positioning.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A system for testing a first gear wheel in connection with a second gear wheel, with a roll-off device, having 
       a first spindle for the rotatable seating of the first gear wheel,  
       a second spindle for the rotatable seating of the second gear wheel,  
       a drive mechanism coupled to the first spindle for generating a rotary movement of the first gear wheel,  
       a drive mechanism coupled to the second spindle for acting on the second gear wheel with a positive or negative torque,  
       a displacement device coupled to the system for changing the positioning of the first gear wheel relative to the second gear wheel,  
       a measurement pick-up device in communication with the roll-off device for monitoring operational characteristics of the first and second gear wheel,  
       two angle encoders for transmitting information regarding the position of each of the first and second gear wheels,  
       an evaluation unit that processes coordinate information ((S (X, Y, Z)) describing the position of the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel,- and processes signals from the measurement pick-up device and signals from the two angle encoders,  
       the roll-off device being controllable in such a way that various positionings of the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel are passed,  
       wherein the measurement pick-up device and the angle encoders continuously pick up signals in the course of this passage, and  
       wherein the evaluation unit processes the continuously picked-up signals together with the coordinate information ((S(X, Y, Z)).  
     
     
       2. The system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the continuously picked-up signals are processed together with the coordinate information ((S (X, Y, Z)) in order to make possible statements regarding the suitable positioning of the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel. 
     
     
       3. The system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the evaluation unit applies one or more predetermined algorithms in order to determine the suitable positioning from the coordinate information ((S(X, Y, Z)), and at least one of the signals from the angle encoders and the signal from the measurement pick-up device. 
     
     
       4. The system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the suitable positioning can be indicated by one or more of storing in memory, printing, and showing on a display unit. 
     
     
       5. The system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the measurement pick-up device senses structure-borne sound being generated in the course of the roll-off of the first gear wheel on the second gear wheel, and wherein the measurement pick-up device provides analog signals in accordance with the structure-borne sound. 
     
     
       6. The system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the angle encoders are designed for receiving single flank working error signals. 
     
     
       7. The system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the roll-off device includes means for bringing the first gear wheel into engagement with the second gear wheel. 
     
     
       8. The system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the positioning of the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel is described by the coordinate information ((S(X, Y, Z)). 
     
     
       9. The system in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the coordinate information ((S(X, Y, Z)) and the signal from the measurement pick-up device are brought into a chronological relationship with each other. 
     
     
       10. The system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein changes in the positioning of the first gear wheel relative to the second gear wheel is defined by a displacement vector. 
     
     
       11. The system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the evaluation unit selects and evaluates a section from the signal from at least one of the measurement pick-up device and the signals from the angle encoders, and wherein this section is expressed in revolutions of one of the first and the second gear wheel. 
     
     
       12. The system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the measurement pick-up device picks up a continuous signal during a passage when the system is in a traction mode, and picks up a continuous signal during the passage when the system is in a thrust mode. 
     
     
       13. The system in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the evaluation unit processes the continuous signal and then smooths it by the application of an algorithm. 
     
     
       14. The system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first gear wheel is a ring gear and the second gear wheel a pinion gear. 
     
     
       15. The system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the roll-off device is a track control device. 
     
     
       16. The system in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the number of revolutions of the first gear wheel and/or the second gear wheel can be predetermined by the track control device. 
     
     
       17. The system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the roll-off device is an SPS controller for controlling a roll-off process. 
     
     
       18. The system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the roll-off device is connected with the evaluation unit by means of a TCP/IP connection. 
     
     
       19. A method for testing a first gear wheel in connection with a second gear wheel, the method comprising the steps of: 
       providing a roll-off device, having a first spindle for the rotatable seating of the first gear wheel, a second spindle for the rotatable seating of the second gear wheel, a drive mechanism coupled to the first spindle for generating a rotary movement of the first gear wheel, a drive mechanism coupled to the second spindle for acting on the second gear wheel with a positive or negative torque, a displacement device coupled to the system for changing the positioning of the first gear wheel relative to the second gear wheel, a measurement pick-up device in communication with the roll-off device and having two angle encoders, and an evaluation unit, which processes coordinate information ((S(X, Y, Z)) describing the position of the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel, processes signals from the measurement pick-up device and signals from the two angle encoders, the roll-off device being controllable in such a way that various positionings of the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel are passed, wherein the measurement pick-up device and the angle encoders continuously pick up signals in the course of this passage, and wherein the evaluation unit processes the continuously picked-up signals together with the coordinate information ((S(X, Y, Z)) and  
       displacing the first gear wheel relative to the second gear wheel in order to bring the two gear wheels into engagement and to set a starting point, driving the first gear wheel for putting it into rotation, wherein the second gear wheel rolls off on the first gear wheel, displacing the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel along a displacement vector {right arrow over (V)}  (t), picking up an analog measuring signal describing the oscillation properties of the two gear wheels, picking up signals describing the rotational properties of the two gear wheels, determining a hypothetical curve by processing the analog measuring signal, of the signals describing the rotational properties, including the position information describing the position of the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel, interpolating the hypothetical curve for determining suitable positioning.  
     
     
       20. The method in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the analog measuring signal is derived from a measurement pick-up device for picking up structure-borne sound. 
     
     
       21. The method in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein one or several predetermined algorithms are being applied when determining the hypothetical curve in order to determine the suitable position from the position information, the analog measuring signal and/or the signals describing the rotational properties. 
     
     
       22. The method in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein a continuous curve is determined from at least one of the analog measuring signal and the signals describing the rotational properties. 
         23 .The method in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein several sections are selected and evaluated from at least one of the analog measuring signal and the signals describing the rotational properties. 
     
     
       24. The method in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein pick-up of the signals takes place in one of the traction mode and the thrust mode. 
     
     
       25. The method in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the hypothetical curve is smoothed by the application of an algorithm. 
     
     
       26. The method in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the suitable positioning is memorized and printed out and shown on a display unit. 
     
     
       27. A system for testing a first gear wheel in connection with a second gear wheel, with a roll-off device, having 
       a first spindle for the rotatable seating of the first gear wheel,  
       a second spindle for the rotatable seating of the second gear wheel,  
       a drive mechanism coupled to the first spindle for generating a rotary movement of the first gear wheel,  
       a drive mechanism coupled to the second spindle for acting on the second gear wheel with a positive or negative torque,  
       a displacement device coupled to the system for changing the positioning of the first gear wheel relative to the second gear wheel,  
       a measurement pick-up device in communication with the roll-off device and having two angle encoders, and an evaluation unit, which  
       processes coordinate information ((S(X, Y, Z)) describing the position of the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel,  
       processes signals from the measurement pick-up device and signals from the two angle encoders,  
       the roll-off device being controllable in such a way that various positionings of the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel are passed,  
       wherein the measurement pick-up device and the angle encoders continuously pick up signals in the course of this passage, and  
       wherein the evaluation unit processes the continuously picked-up signals together with the coordinate information ((S(X, Y, Z)) and further the evaluation unit interpolates characteristic values from at least one of the signal from the measurement pick-up device and the signals from the angle encoders at predetermined positions, which correspond to a defined positioning of the first gear wheel relative to the second gear wheel.  
     
     
       28. The system in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein in the course of the interpolation of the characteristic values the evaluation unit takes into consideration that the installed position of the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel is predetermined by a finite number of spacing disks of a defined thickness. 
     
     
       29. A software module for use in an evaluation units for testing a first gear wheel in connection using an apparatus having a second gear wheel with a roll-off device, having a first spindle for the rotatable seating of the first gear wheel, a second spindle for the rotatable seating of the second gear wheel, a drive mechanism coupled to the first spindle for generating a rotary movement of the first gear wheel, a drive mechanism coupled to the second spindle for acting on the second gear wheel with a positive or negative torque, a displacement device coupled to the system for changing the positioning of the first gear wheel relative to the second gear wheel, a measurement pick-up device in communication with the roll-off device and having two angle encoders, and an evaluation unit, which processes coordinate information ((S(X, Y, Z)) describing the position of the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel, processes signals from the measurement pick-up device and signals from the two angle encoders, the roll-off device being controllable in such a way that various positionings of the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel are passed, wherein the measurement pick-up device and the angle encoders continuously pick up signals in the course of this passage, and wherein the evaluation unit processes the continuously picked-up signals together with the coordinate information ((S(X, Y, Z)), wherein the software module performs the following steps when the evaluation unit does the testing: 
       displacing the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel in order to bring the two gear wheels into engagement and to set a starting point, driving the first gear wheel for puffing it into rotation, wherein the second gear wheel rolls off on the first gear wheel, displacing the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel along a displacement vector {right arrow over (V)}  (t), picking up an analog measuring signal describing the oscillation properties of the two gear wheels, picking up signals describing the rotational properties of the two gear wheels, determining a hypothetical curve by processing the analog measuring signal, of the signals describing the rotational properties, including the position information describing the position of the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel, interpolating the hypothetical curve for determining suitable positioning.  
     
     
       30. An evaluation unit for testing a first gear wheel in connection with a second gear wheel, having a computer and a software module which performs the following steps when the computer does the testing: 
       displacing the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel in order to bring the two gear wheels into engagement and to set a starting point,  
       driving the first gear wheel for putting it into rotation, wherein the second gear wheel rolls off on the first gear wheel,  
       displacing the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel along a displacement vector {right arrow over (V)}  (t),  
       picking up an analog measuring signal describing the oscillation properties of the two gear wheels,  
       picking up signals describing the rotational properties of the two gear wheels,  
       determining a hypothetical curve by processing the analog measuring signal, of the signals describing the rotational properties, including the position information describing the position of the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel,  
       interpolating the hypothetical curve for determining suitable positioning.  
     
     
       31. A system for testing a first gear wheel in connection with a second gear wheel, with a roll-off device, having 
       a first spindle for the rotatable seating of the first gear wheel,  
       a second spindle for the rotatable seating of the second gear wheel,  
       a drive mechanism coupled to the first spindle for generating a rotary movement of the first gear wheel,  
       a drive mechanism coupled to the second spindle for acting on the second gear wheel with a positive or negative torque,  
       a displacement device coupled to the system for changing the positioning of the first gear wheel relative to the second gear wheel,  
       a measurement pick-up device in communication with the roll-off device and having two angle encoders, and an evaluation unit, which  
       processes coordinate information ((S(X, Y, Z)) describing the position of the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel,  
       processes signals from the measurement pick-up device and signals from the two angle encoders,  
       the roll-off device being controllable in such a way that various positionings of the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel are passed,  
       wherein the measurement pick-up device and the angle encoders continuously pick up signals in the course of this passage, and  
       wherein the evaluation unit processes the continuously picked-up signals together with the coordinate information ((S(X, Y, Z)) by means of a computer.  
     
     
       32. A system for testing a first gear wheel in connection with a second gear wheel, with a roll-off device, having 
       a first spindle for the rotatable seating of the first gear wheel,  
       a second spindle for the rotatable seating of the second gear wheel,  
       a drive mechanism coupled to the first spindle for generating a rotary movement of the first gear wheel,  
       a drive mechanism coupled to the second spindle for acting on the second gear wheel with a positive or negative torque,  
       a displacement device coupled to the system for changing the positioning of the first gear wheel relative to the second gear wheel,  
       a measurement pick-up device in communication with the roll-off device and having two angle encoders, and an evaluation unit, which  
       processes coordinate information ((S(X, Y, Z)) describing the position of the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel,  
       processes signals from the measurement pick-up device and signals from the two angle encoders,  
       the roll-off device being controllable in such a way that various positionings of the first gear wheel in relation to the second gear wheel in both fraction mode and thrust mode are passed,  
       wherein the measurement pick-up device and the angle encoders continuously pick up signals in the course of these passages, and  
       wherein the evaluation unit processes the continuously picked-up signals together with the coordinate information ((S(X, Y, Z)) and then smooths it by the application of an algorithm.